Mudslide closes Crown King's main road again

PHOENIX -- The main road into Crown King is shutting down again Monday morning because of a mudslide triggered by heavy rain over the weekend.

An estimated six inches of rainfall washed out the main road into Crown King just weeks after a 16,000-acre wildfire burned in around the community. Repairs are expected to take all week.

Taryn Denyce runs the Bradshaw Mountain Bed and Breakfast and said the fire cost her $20,000 in business and the weekend weather just adds to the problem.

"I get calls asking are you still on fire? No, please come back. And then there's the rain. I haven't even started getting calls over the roads.

"I have no reservations. I'm usually completely full this time of year. We want the rain because it opens the forest back up but the consequences are when it comes down so severely, they wash out roads."

Only postal service and residents are allowed escorted access on the road.

Officials had opened the main road into the community for a few hours Sunday.

About the Author

Have covered some of the biggest stories in Arizona including nine of the top 10 largest wildfires in state history. The Wallow Fire in 2011 became the largest fire in state history. Rodeo-Chediski Fire in June 2002, which is the second largest fire in Arizona. Covered the Yarnell Hill Tragedy in June 2013 that left 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots dead.

Favorite movies: True Grit, both 1969 John Wayne classic and the remake with Jeff Bridges and Lonesome Dove.

Sports Teams: Washington State University Cougars, Texas Longhorns, The University of Montana Grizzlies.